What is the ideal candidate for the Ross Procedure?
Patients … • Who are less than 55 years of age (at the time of anticipated surgery) • Who have a life expectancy of 20 years or more • Who would have problems with being on anticoagulation medication, such as a history of bleeding. (regardless of age) • Who are women of childbearing years • Who have no other major cardiac lesion needing correction (multivessel coronary disease, mitral disease). • Have isolated aortic valve pathology. • Atheletes or the young for whom anticoagulation would carry a higher risk. The accepted age range for patients having the pulmonary autograft procedure has expanded significantly. Many surgeons view the procedure as a solution for congenital aortic stenosis that can be performed early in life, and quite possibly eliminate the need for multiple aortic valve replacements. As increasing durability of the operation is evidenced, older patients with more active lifestyles become candidates for the procedure. The pulmonary autograft procedure is certainly in
